The Oberlin College baseball team got its season underway this past weekend with a three-game series in Berea, Kentucky. The Yeomen won their first game of the season, but dropped the next two by a combined three runs.

Junior Alex Sugiura started on the mound of the first game of the scheduled doubleheader against Pikeville College on March 3. Both teams were held scoreless for the first two innings, but the Yeomen struck with two runs in the top of the third.

Sophomore Brian Verne scored on an RBI single by senior captain Seth Binder. Two batters later, senior Rick Betzel drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Binder. Pikeville avoided any further damage from the bases-loaded jam by fanning the next two Yeomen batters.

After Pikeville scored a run in the next inning, Oberlin countered with single runs in both the fourth and sixth innings with RBI hits by Binder and Verne and a crucial Pikeville error in the seventh.

Leading 5-1 going into the bottom half of the seventh, Oberlin looked poised to secure its first victory. Aided by two Oberlin errors, Pikeville was able to score and tie the game, forcing extra innings.

Although Pikeville had momentum, Oberlin was not about to let this game slip away. Sophomore Calvin Kyrkostas hit a single with the bases loaded to score two, and senior Jesse Cullen-DuPont scored on a wild pitch to give the Yeomen a three run lead. Oberlin held this lead as sophomore PJ Carter recorded the save and sophomore Jeremy Simon recorded the win 8-6.

Much of the first game was played after it had begun to snow. Because of unplayable conditions, the second game had to be called.

Sunday saw a change of fortunes for the Yeomen. The first game of a doubleheader against Berea College saw a pitchers’ duel. Through six and a half innings, the teams were tied 0-0. Oberlin first-year starter Jack Dunn and a Berea starter combined gave up only seven hits in that span.

Dunn, however, gave up two hits in the bottom half of the frame and the Yeomen lost 0-1 when they failed to convert a double play chance to send the game to extra innings.

In the second game against Berea, the Yeomen committed five errors, leading to four unearned runs. These miscues doomed Oberlin’s chances as they fell 5-7.

Returning from Kentucky with a 1-2 record, the Yeomen felt good about the trip, even if they showed the rust in their third game.

“I think we are right about where we should be considering this past weekend in Kentucky was our first time outdoors all season,” said Kyrkostas.

Betzel agreed with this sentiment, saying “There’s always work to be done. Hopefully we’ll start hitting with a little more authority once it warms up.” But even the slow start shouldn’t be one to worry about, as Betzel said about this year’s team, “We’re better than we’ve ever been.”

The Yeomen will look to prove this on March 17 and 18 when they travel to Maryville, Tennessee for a pair of weekend doubleheaders.